Do You Need a Guru?: Understanding the Student-Teacher Relationship in an Era of False Prophets "Mariana Caplan's book is the most comprehensive, lucid, well-argued, utterly straightforward and honest work on the whole guru question that there is. She unapologetically tackles the most difficult, controversial, nitty-gritty issues without hedging, flinching, or smoothing over any of the rough edges. This book is must-reading for any serious spiritual seeker, as well as for anyone who wants to understand what the relation to a spiritual master is all about." ~John Welwood, author of Toward a Psychology of Awakening "The hot topic of guru-disciple relationships is perhaps the single most thorny, controversial and misunderstood among the most significant issues concerning the authentic transmission of Dharma from East to West. I commend Mariana Caplan for her useful research and fresh, provocative take on this exceedingly rich and complex topic, one of keen interest and relevance to so many spiritual seekers and teachers today. This book certainly sheds new light on this subject." ~Lama Surya Das, author of Awakening the Buddha Within, founder of the Dzogchen Center Mariana Caplan's invitation to reflect on conscious discipleship not only reminds us of the importance of guidance in the adventure of consciousness, but focuses on the critical importance of knowing how to use it… May her book stimulate seekers to learn how to learn conscious discipleship and would that it might, like an amulet, endow them with the subtle perception that discriminates truth from imitations. ~Claudio Naranjo [from the foreword], author of The Psychology of Meditation, and Ennea-types in Psychotherapy "An honest, well researched and informative guide to this much misunderstood and yet important spiritual topic. . . A clear, insightful, and humorous look at the drama of the student-teacher relationship." ~Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Sufi teacher and author, Sufism: The Transformation of the Heart and The Face Before I Was Born "The rising of spiritual aspirations in the West, where the values of 'having' have smothered those of 'being,' is a source of hope for the future of mankind. However, the interest in traditional teachings transmitted by masters to their disciples is developing in a context of confusion, misunderstanding, if not of scandals. And what was a promise of peace becomes a source of suffering. Many spiritual seekers think it is their right to meet a guru, and even an outstanding guru, without ever asking themselves : 'Who am I as a disciple to have such a claim ?' Mariana Caplan explores this essential matter through her own experience and throws precious light on this theme. It pays homage to the truth, the truth being always greater than any illusions." ~Arnaud Desjardins, author of Jump into Life and Toward the Fullness of Life "Mariana Caplan's Do You Need a Guru? answers this question better than any book I've read. If you are curious about the subtle gifts and traps of the student-teacher relationship, or if you are interested in authenticating mature heart-devotion rather than following your unresolved childhood hope for love down the wrong spiritual road, then read this book." ~David Deida, author of Naked Buddhism and Finding God through Sex "Essential reading for those on the spiritual path, and for those who want to see effective spiritual paths developed in our culture." ~Charles Tart, author of Altered States of Consciousness and Waking Up